Art sightings and soundings

Well, I know at least one person who has started the new year off with the proverbial bang — Bob Duggan, known in the art blog community as author of Art Blog by Bob, has kicked off his new blog-gig 'Picture This' at Big Think with some thoughts on an artist who uses gunpowder in his art and often ignites the works.

In his very first post (sonorously titled Art Boom) on the new blog, Bob discusses Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang's 'Fallen Blossoms' show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the pyrotechnics that kicked it off. That's right, the artist's exhibition openings often feature catering and fire marshals. Worth a look.
Photo: 'Transient Rainbow" on the East River in New York City, 2002 (from Cai Guo-Quiang's website)